May 2006

11th May 2006

12:00 AM — The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has expressed "astonishment" at claims that new minister for Women and Equality will struggle to fulfil her role because of her faith.In a letter to The Times, Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, asked for respect for Ms Kelly's beliefs.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusivePinkNews.co.uk has obtained pictures of the alleged gay porn film produced and directed by a British National Party councillor.Richard Barnbrook, London co-ordinator for the right wing party, has strongly denied media rumours that the film is pornographic after the Evening Standard claimed to have a copy of the production, HMS Discovery: A Love Story, described as "Marxist gay cinema from conceptual artist Barnbrook."

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveThe British National Party fears that homosexuality will soon be compulsory if activists get their way.A spokesman for Nick Griffin's right wing party told PinkNews.co.uk today that homosexuality should not be promoted as equal to a straight lifestyle.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveThe British National Party fears that homosexuality will soon be compulsory if activists get their way.A spokesman for Nick Griffin's right wing party told PinkNews.co.uk today that homosexuality should not be promoted as equal to a straight lifestyle.

12:00 AM — American author, Armistead Maupin has been announced as the winner of the Big Gay Read, making him the gay community's favourite novelist.Mr Maupin, the world's best selling gay writer, was chosen for his novel, Tales of the City, as part of the Queer Up North festival in Manchester.

10th May 2006

12:00 AM — Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich this week issued an executive order extending domestic partnership benefits to all state employees under the authority of the governor's office.Illinois is America's 13th state, and the third largest to adopt domestic partnership benefits for a major segment of its state employee population.

12:00 AM — The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a report that despite steady declines in syphilis rates among African Americans, women and babies between 1999 and 2004, overall numbers continued to rise driven by a dramatic jump in infections among gay and bisexual men.Nearly two-thirds of all the new syphilis cases in 2004 were in men who had engaged in homosexual activity, according to the CDC. That same group made up just 5% of new infections in 1999, the report said.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveMarc Shoffman explores Opus Dei, the Catholic society at the centre of the row over Ruth Kelly's appointment as minister for Women and Equality.For a group often accused of secrecy, Opus Dei must be quite shocked at being thrust into the limelight over the past few weeks. The upcoming film adaptation of the Da Vinci Code portrays the organisation as an extreme, manipulative organisation, harshly defending the existence of Jesus Christ and now it has been brought into British politics with the appointment of one of its 80,000 members, Ruth Kelly, to head the government's equality unit.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveTony Blair thought his cabinet reshuffle would end the media's obsession with his minister's private lives and would mean he could get back to politics, but thanks to research by PinkNews.co.uk, the Prime Minister's judgement has yet again been called into question.Gay groups, MPs and the media have this week questioned the wisdom of appointing Ruth Kelly as Minister for Women and Equality.

12:00 AM — A gay Labour politician has pledged his support for Ruth Kelly amid criticism of her appointment as Minister for Women and Equality due to her poor voting record on gay rights and affiliation with Opus Dei, a strict Catholic group.Michael Cashman, the Labour MEP for the West Midlands, defended the government's achievements for Gays and Lesbians following press attacks today on the appointment of Ruth Kelly as Secretary of State.

12:00 AM — A gay former policeman is claiming he was victimised by his force after coming out.An employment tribunal heard that Nottingham Police allegedly discriminated against Ben Stokes, 23, after his sexuality was revealed when he started a relationship with a male teenager.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveTony Blair thought his cabinet reshuffle would end the media's obsession with his minister's private lives and would mean he could get back to politics, but thanks to research by PinkNews.co.uk, the Prime Minister's judgement has yet again been called into question.Gay groups, MPs and the media have this week questioned the wisdom of appointing Ruth Kelly as Minister for Women and Equality.

12:00 AM — Gay actor, Sir Ian Mckellen has been named a patron for this year's Oxford PrideHis support was welcomed by organisers of the day which is expected to attract hundreds of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to Oxford on Saturday 15 July 2006.

12:00 AM — The National Union of Students (NUS) has joined the escalating row over Ruth Kelly's appointment as Women and Equality Minister.The NUS released a statement today urging Ms Kelly to back up her claim that she believes in equality with action, as the media scrutinise her refusal to be drawn on whether she thought homosexuality was a sin.

12:00 AM — Two US states have made historic strides in protecting the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people.Hawaii and Vermont, have in the past week introduced laws to include, protect and support transgender people.Hawaii's second transgender-inclusive bill passed into law, followed by an expansive non-discrimination bill in Vermont clearing the Legislature, positioning Vermont to become the ninth state in America to make discriminatory practices based on gender identity or expression illegal.

12:00 AM — A Scottish adoption and fostering group has called on MSPs to approve new laws allowing gay couples to adopt.Barbara Hudson, director of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering Scotland told politicians they would be doing a "disservice" to children if they abandoned the legislation.

12:00 AM — PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveAn openly gay Conservative has been elected as the chairman of the Greater London Assembly (GLA), the city wide governmet.Brian Coleman, GLA member for Barnet and Camden who is openly gay told PinkNews.co.uk "I'm looking forward to wearing the beautiful badge of office, complete with diamonds and drop pearl!" Adding with a chuckle: "I shall wear with it with my customary dignity- I'm not the sort of man who could get away with dressing up in drag."

12:00 AM — Groups supporting gay issues are to be given a cash boost to help combat sexual violence, the Home Office announced today.Home Office Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, revealed that £1.25 million would be made available for voluntary and community organisations throughout England and Wales.

12:00 AM — A gay foster couple are being accused of abusing their children and making them watch gay porn.Leeds Crown Court was told today that Ian Wathey, 40, and Craig Faunch, 32, allegedly took advantage of children put in their care by Wakefield Council in West Yorkshire, and molested several children.

12:00 AM — Michelle "Cold Fish" Dewberry has been chosen as Alan Sugar's apprentice.She beat fellow finalist Ruth Badger, 27,in a final task this evening which saw the return of previous contestants including cheeky chappy, Syed Ahmed, and the ever emotional, Jo Cameron, to help out on the assignments.

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